How Many Syllables In December?
3syllables
December has 3 syllables, de-cem-ber. It is a trisyllabic word.
december
/dɪˈsem.bə/ UK /dɪˈsem.bɚ/ US
Stress
The main stress falls on the second syllable, cem.
Syllable Structure
CV/CVC/CV
Division By Sound
/dɪ.sem.bə/
Division By Letters
de-cem-ber
A spelling guide that follows the sound division.
Tree Diagram Of December
S syllable, O onset, R rime, P peak, C coda, Ø no coda.
Parts Of Each Syllable
| Syllable | Onset | Peak | Coda | Pattern | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | d | ɪ | – | CV | open |
| 2 primary stress | s | e | m | CVC | closed |
| 3 | b | ə | – | CV | open |
Why December Divides Here
- Between syllables 1 and 2, /s/ goes to the right, following the Maximal Onsets Principle.
- Syllable 2 is stressed and has the short vowel /e/, so it keeps a coda /m/.
Questions Students Ask
How many syllables are in december?
December has 3 syllables, de-cem-ber. In British English it is transcribed /dɪˈsem.bə/.
Which syllable is stressed in december?
The second syllable, cem, carries the main stress.
What is the syllable structure of december?
December has the structure CV/CVC/CV, where C is a consonant sound and V is a vowel sound.
How do you divide december into syllables?
By sound, dɪ.sem.bə. By letters, as a spelling guide, de-cem-ber.